Automated MR spectroscopy of intra- and extraventricular neurocytomas

Abstract

Purpose: We evaluated the automated magnetic resonance spectroscopic (MRS) characteristics of intra- and extraventricular neurocytomas.

Materials and methods: One extra- and 4 intraventricular neurocytomas were studied. Automated single-voxel proton MRS was performed with a 1.5 T MR scanner. The results of 6 total automated MR spectra were analyzed for each tumor.

Results: Lactate resonance was detected as a doublet in 3 MR spectra of 2 intraventricular neurocytomas. A peak corresponding to N-acetylaspartate (NAA) was small in 5 MR spectra of 4 intraventricular neurocytomas. Creatine (Cr) resonance was detected in all 6 MR spectra. Prominent choline (Cho) resonance was found in all 6 MR spectra. The myoinositol (MI) and/or glycine (Gly) peaks were large in 3 MR spectra of 2 intraventricular neurocytomas.

Conclusion: The presence of the NAA signal and high MI and/or Gly signals may be characteristic features of intraventricular neurocytomas. A combination of prominent Cho resonance and detectable Cr resonance is a common feature of both intra- and extraventricular neurocytomas.